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Ubiquiti UniFi mDNS auto discover issue

If mDNS is unchecked then Home Assistant and ESPHome will not auto discover new devices

If your Home Assistant (or Homey) hub and your ESPHome devices are on different networks, you need mDNS working across both networks and firewall rules that allow traffic between them. Below are guides for fixing this from your PC or the UniFi mobile app.

Method 1: Browser

You can turn on Multicast DNS for your Default Network from a browser on your PC.

1. Log into your UniFi network through your default IP address which is usually http://192.168.1.1

2. Select Network.

UniFi OS Applications page with the Network application highlighted

3. Select Settings.

UniFi Network sidebar with the Settings gear icon highlighted

4. Select Networks.

UniFi Network settings menu with Networks highlighted

5. Select the Default Network

UniFi Networks list with the Default network highlighted

6. Check Multicast DNS

UniFi Default network settings with the Multicast DNS checkbox checked and highlighted

7. Now the Home Assistant/ESPHome auto-discover issue should be fixed!

Method 2: UniFi mobile app

You can also turn on Multicast DNS for your Default Network from the UniFi mobile app.

1. Open the UniFi app.

UniFi Network app icon circled in the phone's app search results

2. Tap Settings/Gear Icon

UniFi Network app Settings screen with the gear icon circled in the bottom bar

3. Tap Networks

UniFi Network app Settings screen with Networks circled

4. Tap Default Network

UniFi Network app Networks list with the Default network circled

5. Tap the Multicast DNS slider

UniFi Network app Edit Default screen with the Multicast DNS toggle turned on and circled

6. Now the Home Assistant/ESPHome auto-discover issue should be fixed!